'TIS not without reason, that the most Rational People of the World, and especially Protestants, shew but a very slight and indifferent incli­nation to believe Miracles which are said to have been wrought since the times of the Apostles. In­deed if we examine very narrowly into them, we shall find, generally speaking, that they owe their rise to the Interest and Avarice of the Clergy; who, under the shelter of that thick darkness, which for so long a time had covered the Christian world, Invented a thousand Mira­cles to establish their Authority, their Opinions, and chiefly the great Revenues of the Church. This is so manifest a truth, that we need but to read the Golden Legend, and Metaphrastus, to be convinced of it. Now as those fseigned Miracles [Page 6] were only established through the Ignorance of the deluded People; so we saw them in some manner to disappear after the taking of Constantinople, when Learning was forced to take its sanctuary in the West: They began then to question the truth of Visions, and the Credit and Honesty of the Clergy, which made Miracles less frequent: But as soon as the great Light of the Reformation appeared, they vanished away entirely; and since that time have not dared to shew themselves on our Horizon, but in bugger-mugger, if I may be allowed that common word. It is true, the Jesuits say that they have rose again in Iapan and in China; but since they produce no other Witnesses for the proof of such a Report, but the Fathers of their own Society, which makes them very much to be suspected, we do not think it worth our while and pains to go about to shew that these Miracles are no more real, than an infinite num­ber of other Stories related in the Legend.

The many Tricks and Cheats which have been already discovered upon this Subject, ought to oblige every Rational man to stand upon his guard, and not to believe over-hastily all the Miracles that are said to have been wrought. This is a very just precaution and not to be blamed; but then it is only thus far that our mistrust ought to extend; for to push it further would be to drive it in partibus In­fidelium.

But th [...]re are I know not how many persons that break this Rule; some, without ever entring into any [...]tion at all, believe every thing that is [...] and if the Event be but ever so li [...]ing [...] it goes down with them [Page 7] for a Miracle. Others, who pretend to be more refined, do very stifly deny all that is said to them; but if a Fact be proved so clearly that they cannot contradict it, then they answer coldly that this is a Natural Effect, without ever being at any trouble to examine or explain whether it be so or no, though they are never so much press'd to it. 'Tis plain now, that both these sort of persons do lay their stress upon foundations equally false, the former do frame to themselves a Common-place of the power of God, and to these it is enough to say, that God is Almighty, to make them believe the truth of all the Miracles that ever have been published. On the contrary, the other, whether they have examined any of the pretended Miracles, and found them false, or else have learnt it from somebody else make to themselves another Common-place from this Errour and so concluding from a particular to the general, against all the Rules of good Logick, they affirm, that all the Miracles which are said to have happened in the world, are false, and without any foundation: These two faults are to be condemend, but the former of them hath some appearance of goodness mixt with their simplicity; whereas the Vice of the latter hath the characters of an excessive pride, and malignity of heart. This Remark obliges me to divide these Incredulous persons into two Classes; because some of them through a foolish presumption deny the truth of all Events that do but shock the small light of their understandings; and the others do avoid examining these Events for fear least they should find there the finger of Di­vine Providence, which they would gladly efface out [Page 8] of the works and order of Nature. The First Vice is the fault of the self-conceited half-witted sparks; and the Second that of the Impious, which are ironically, but commonly Stiled, Esprits forts.

From what I have observed it follows, that we ought to keep a just medium between these two extreams, and seriously to examine the Events we are told of, before we pass a judgment on them: Shall we shew a curiosity or earnestness for the least trifles, and can we be cold and negligent in informing our selves of the truth of an impor­tant matter of Fact, which happens against the ordinary course of the things of this World?

To proceed in this Examination we ought, in my Judgment, to do these Four things: First, to examine whether the Fact in it self be wonderful, and contrary to the Laws or common Effects of Nature; for if it hath not this character, why should we spend our time in vain to seek for a Mystery where there is none? Secondly, We ought to consider the Person on whose behalf this Miracle is pretended to be wrought: It is a Lesson that was heretofore given to the Pharisees by the Parents of the man, that St. Iohn mentions was blind from his Birth, We know that this is our son, said they, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now seeth, we know not: He is of age, ask him, he shall speak for himself. Io. 9. Thirdly, We ought to examine the probity and the number of Wit­nesses; because if a Fact be attested by a compe­tent number of persons of Credit and Reputation, of divers Nations, of different Interests, and whom we can have no suspicion of, for joining in [Page 9] a Conspiracy to carry on a Lye, such a Fact ought to be accounted as true as if we had seen it with our own Eyes; for there is the foundation of the most part of our knowledge. Fourthly and Lastly. We ought carefully and without partiality to seek whether Interest may not have corrupted any of the Persons who relate this Event, which we are finding out the Truth of.

These Rules being once establish'd, I do believe we may make a just judgment upon the Healing of this Young French Girl, Lame almost from her Birth, whose surprising History makes such a noise in the Town, and which gives occasion of so ma­ny different discourses. But that I may not be ac­cused of breaking the first of these Rules which I have laid down; I will now simply relate the Fact, and then afterwards see whether it hath the Characters that we have observed.

Marie Maillard, the Daughter of Iohn Maillard a Sword-Cutler, and Charlotte du Dognon, was born at Coignac in Xaintonge the 25th. of September, 1680. She was scarce a Year old when her Father & Mother first perceived that she was Lame, having a hollowness in that place where we usually per­ceive the Bone of the Left thigh to fall into the Hip, (these are their own words), These good peo­ple sent for a Surgeon to come and see her; but either through Ignorance, or somewhat else, there was found no Remedy for her. They rested there, and looking upon her Disease as incurable, they brought her up without applying themselves to any other Surgeons or Physitians. According as the Girl grew up in Years, so her Lameness in­creased proportionably, insomuch that there arose [Page 10] a great Tumour above the Cavity of the Ischion. Her Leg became shorter by above Four Inches, her Knee turned inwards, and her Foot in such a distorted manner, that the inward Anckle-bone almost supplyed the place of the Sole of her Foot, She Lived in France till the Persecution obliged Protestants to think of retiring; Her Father and Mother being of that number, Fled first to Lau­zane, and carryed their Daughter along with them, from thence they went into Germany, and at last came over into England about Four years and a Half ago.

This Travelling increased the Girl's Distemper, and she became worse and worse as to her Lame­ness; so that when she walked, she threw her Body first on one side, then on the other; and, which was still worse, she felt very violent Pains. Her deformed way of going caused the little Children to flock about, and abuse her with rude Language; and these, being naturally inclined to do evil, were not contented with only giving her ill Names that were expressive of her Deformity, but also threw Dirt at her; so odious seemed her sight to them.

Monsieur Debat, a Surgeon of the poor Refu­gees, was called about two years ago to visit her, and he did so, but he thought her Distemper was not to be cured, and therefore only advised her Mother to chase her with some Oyis, to endeavour to alleviate her Pains; but that had no Success: so that then her Father and Mother despaired of being ever able to do her any good; for they did not flatter themselves that she could be cured. Thus you see in what a Condition Marie Maillard [Page 11] hath continued, till on Sunday the Six and twen­ti [...]th of November last.

She went on that day in the Afternoon to the French Church behind Leicester-Fields, and as she returned home, she was again set upon by those little Children that all over bespattered her with dirt, and followed her with several Ill Names, even to the House where Mademoiselle de Laulan lodged, (to whom she served as an Interpretess) in St. Iames's Alley, near the Church, in Germain street. This ill usage extremely grieved her, in­somuch that she wept, and complained of it to her Mistress, who exhorted her to have Patience, and to comfort her self in God.

Between Seven and Eight of the Clock in the Evening, she took the New Testament to read in it; and reading the Second Chapter of St. Mark, she told her Mistress that she wondred at the Un­belief of the Iews; and, If such a thing had hap­pened now, (said she, upon the Wonderful Cure that was wrought upon the Sick of the Palsy, mentioned in that Chapter) I would run very quick­ly, and believe too. And scarce had she uttered those Words, but a redoubling of her Pain came upon her, which forced her to stretch out her Leg; and as she would have drawn it in, upon a Re­proof her Mistress made her of the Indecency of that Posture in stretching it out so near to hers, she heard a Snap that her Bone made, her Leg extended it self, her Foot and Knee were restored to their proper and Natural Scituation; her Pains ceased, and she thought she had heard a Voice saying to her, Thou art healed. Let that be as it will, she found her self effectually healed, and [Page 12] went to walk up and down the Chamber; and she continues very well, saving a little Weakness; her Left Leg is now in as good a Position as her Right, and she walks very easily.

This is the Matter of Fact, the Person in whose behalf this surprizing Event is wrought, relates it her self; she there declares to all those who have had the Curiosity to see her, and even upon Oath before my Lord Mayor of London.

The Witnesses who depose that she was extra­ordinarily Lame before the 26th. day of November, are her Father and Mother, the Inhabitants of the Place where she was born, and a world of others, both English and French, of all Ages, of both Sexes, and of different Qualities: Children of Five and Six Years old, who are incorruptible, and not subject to be unsincere: A Taylor who made her Cloathes, and observed the Deformity of her Body: The Shoe m [...]ker who made her Shoes, and who was obliged to make one Shoe for her higher than the other Four or Five Inches: An honest man, a Swiss by Nation, who has known her from her Cradle, and with whom she afterwards lodged here, who would have made an Artificial Leg for her, to have help'd to support her Body: In a word, we will produce for a Wit­ness, the Surgeon who visited her about two years ago.

This Girl having lived above Four Years in and about Westminster, we have more Proof than needs to justify that she was extraordinary Lame long before the time we have taken notice of; and since all the world may speak with her her self now, and so many people have seen her since [Page 13] she was healed, it would be to no purpose to stay any longer upon this Subject: We will therefore proceed to say something as to the Manner how she came to be thus healed.

I confess, That properly speaking, there are but Two Witnesses of the Wonderful Healing of this Girl; but is not this Number sufficient? The Law requires no more even in Capital Cases, which concern mens Lives, provided there be no Objection against them to invalidate their Evi­dence. Would it not then be a great piece of Fol­ly to require a greater Number here in this Case? This being so, we will now proceed to give you the Character of our Witnesses.

We yet cannot pass a true Judgment on the Disposition and Manners of a Girl of Marie Mail­lard's Age; Infancy is most commonly divided between little Pastimes and Diversions, and at Thirteen Years old we seldom have any thoughts of God, and of regulating the way of our lives; yet this we may say, That the Girl we speak of is to be excepted out of this Rule; and whether the Condition of a Refugee obliged her Parents to speak oftner to her of God, than otherwise perhaps they might have done, or else the Dis­courses that were made her to comfort her con­cerning her Deformity, touched her heart, it is certain that this Girl hath discovered a great deal more of Religion, than is ordinarily seen in a Ri­per Age: She is very well instructed in the first Rudiments of the Christian Religion, and she has for her years a competent Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. This, I think, is sufficient for our first Witness.

[Page 14] The second is Mademoiselle de Loulan: She is an Honest Gentlewoman, who hath always had a ve­ry good Reputation; she lived a considerable time in the Family of Madam de Turenne, that In­comparable Princess, who was less Illustrious in her She was the only Daughter to the Duke de la Force. High Birth, and Rank she had in the world, than in that which her Piety has given her Name in the Church, where her Memory will be always celebrated. This In­stance would be enough to recommend the Repu­tation of Mademoiselle de Laulan; but if we add to it her leaving her Husband in France, and a con­siderable Estate for the sake of her Religion, and her having met with Misfortunes here capable to shake almost any heart less steady than hers, it must be confessed that Vertue is required for such a thing, and that a Person of her Character can­not be suspected of inventing a Lye, which be­sides the Loss of her Reputation, is of no advan­tage to her in the world. Those who will not be satisfied with the Testimony I have here given of her, I am sure will be convinced of it, if they will take the pains to enquire the Character of Mademoiselle de Laulan, of Madam the Countess de Roye; I should not presume to take the Liberty of mentioning here the Name of this most No­ble Lady, but because I am sure that she will not refuse to do Justice to the Reputation of this Gen­tlewoman; and besides, that she saw a very few days before, the Girl we are speaking of, and al­so that she saw her the day after she was cured, that is to say, the 27th. of November last.

[Page 15] These are the Characters of our two Witnesses; is it not now unjust to question the truth of their Testimony? I am not much given to be fondly credulous, but when I consider the Number of people that have seen this Lame Child, and that she is not so now; that there is no body who at­tributes the Glory of Curing her to himself; and that her Mistress and she deposed that she was heal­ed in the manner as we have related, I am per­suaded that it will be a great Folly in any one to deny the Truth of the Fact, as they have decla­red it.

This now is the Narrative of this Marvellous Event, which I have taken from the Affidavits and Certificates hereunto annexed: I come now to apply to them the Rules I have laid down. And First, I maintain that the healing of this Girl hath something Supernatural (if the matter has been as we have related it) and this is what we shall see. Her Thigh-bone has most certainly been out of its place for above these Twelve years, for how else could the Cavity of the Ischion have been per­ceived? Her Left-leg was considerably shorter than her Right; her Foot and Knee distorted after that manner as I have given an Account of; she feeling very great pains; and behold! in an instant this Bone retakes its place, her Leg becomes long again, her Foot and Knee returning to their Natural Sci­tuation, her pains leaving her: Now, hath there ever been any Event more surprizing? I do believe I have a very just Idea of Events, to which Physiti­ans have ascribed the Name of Miracles of Nature. But I challenge any of them to find out in all the Anuals of their Medicinal Science one Example so [Page 16] wonderful and astonishing as this, and all the Philosophers in the World to explain it natu­rally.

Now, tho there should be only this in it, I am apt to think they could not but say, that it is an operation immediately proceeding from God; but if a Christi­an will superadd to it the remarkable Circumstance of her reading the Word of God, and the Discourse that the Girl had, so full of Faith at the time when her healing was effecting; I can't believe but that he must confess, that this here is as manifest and no­torious a Miracle as those the Gospel speaks of. Let us subjoyn to this another reason. All the World knows, That when a Dislocated Thigh or Leg is put into its place by the Skill of an Artist, the Pati­ent must keep his Bed, or repose himself for at least two or three Weeks after; there must be I know not how many bindings about the place so set, and a world of other necessary precautions used. For without them they could never cure the Evii. And, humanly speaking, all the same care was as neces­sary here in this case as in any, her Infirmity being of several years standing; but now let us see what care she had of her self; instead of resting her re­stored Foot, at that very moment she betook her self to Walking, and Leaping up and down the Chamber; and the next day, instead of keeping her Bed, she went to several places, and particu­larly to the Countess de Roye, and to her Father, to tell him the News of her being cured. How can we call this any otherwise than the Continuation of a Miracle?

If this Cure had been naturally effected, there's none can deny, after what we have already said, [Page 17] but it must have proved the Surgeon's or Physici­an's Master-piece; and if so, is it to be imagined that these Gentlemen who so much value themselves upon the least Cures wrought by them (that so by inhauncing their Reputation they may the better make their Fortunes,) would neglect the publish­ing of this to the World, which is doubtless one of the most surprizing and amazing that ever hath been heard spoke of?

2dly, I affirm, That this Girl in whose behalf this wonderful Event hath been wrought, is of a competent Age to give her Testimony to the truth, and to speak for her self; but has not Discretion sufficient to be intrusted with an Intrigue so nice and refined, as this must needs be, if there were any trick or foul play in it: Ask her, she will tell you, I was Lame, but thanks be to God, I am not so now; I was healed in reading such a Chapter without any humane help.

3dly, All the other Witnesses, who depose or certify about this Fact, are Persons of known Ho­nesty and Credit, most of whom have left consi­derable Estates behind them for the Testimony of a good Conscience. These are English, French, of different Characters, of different Parties, and Chil­dren that are every day playing with her. Now, what foolishness is it to suspect that so many Per­sons should conspire together to confirm a Lye, by which they can receive no profit, and wherein they can have no interest? This is a Character that makes their Testimony absolutely good and valid, according to the fourth Remark we have before made.

[Page 18] Tho I do not insist upon the Voice she thought she had heard, yet it is not because I believe nothing of it, for the wonder of her Cure renders it very credible to me; but it is only because her Mistress heard nothing of it; and having so many other proofs besides. I will not make use of this. It seems but just that Heaven, who wrought this Miracle upo [...] the Girl, did let her know at the same time from whence that great Blessing to her came, for fear least being ignorant of her Benefactor, she should attribute her Cure to some Second Cause.

I know not whether this Argument I have made, or rather the Affidavits taken upon Oath before a Right Honourable Magistrate will be able to con­vince some incredulous Persons; but this I am sure of at least, that an honest and sincere Mind, who only seeks for truth, will find enough here to sa­tisfy him that God doth still work wonderful things in the midst of us.

I will conclude with answering two Objections, which I have heard already made against this Mi­racle. Miracles, say some, are ceased: I know this hath been a Doctrine delivered by several famous Protestant Divines; but however we ought not to understand them in too strict a sense: For where is it to be found, that God hath threatned the World with working no more Miracles? We may say indeed they have ceased in one sence, because they are ex­traordinary rare in this Age, to what they were in the time of the Apostles. God works not Miracles but through a kind of necessity; at least it is my Conception so: But the Sacred Text tells us, That he wrought one in favour of a King that was Sick, and why cannot he do so now to cure a poor Girl, [Page 19] who shewed so great an instance of Faith? More­over, if Miracles are chiefly to confirm the Truth, may not we say that they are at this day as necessary as ever, so many Errors and open Defiances of God being now so common and reigning in the World?

The second Objection is taken from the weak­ness that the Girl is in still; God, say they, doth not use to work Miracles by halves. To this I an­swer, That the Miracle is compleat: And as I may truly affirm, That I am cured of an Ague, when I find I have no more fits, altho my Plumpness, my Colour, and my Strength, are not so well re­stored to me, as they were when I was first seized with the Ague; so likewise is it with this Girl, she is actually Healed, her Thigh Bone being got again into its place, her Leg being come to its due length; and her Foot and Knee in their Right Scituation, and (what is more still) her violent pains being quite gone, though she yet feels a little weakness.

The Miracle consists in doing what Nature could not do. Nature could not set the Bone of the Girl's Thigh in its proper place again, it could not stretch out her Leg to its due length, make her Foot strait, and deliver her from her pains in an instant: But Nature may strengthen her weak parts, and by an equal communication of Nou­rishment to all the parts of her Body, may in time take away that little inconsiderable difference that we now see in her walking. Experience furnishes me with this Argument. The Girl grows better and better every day; and there is all the reason in the world to believe, that the Difficulty they [Page 20] make so great a noise about now, will be wholly gone in a little time.

You, who will not for all this yet acknowledge here the hand of God, tell us at least how this great Cure has been wrought?

This is what I have to say of this most wonder­ful Event; I refer the rest to the Affidavits and Certificates which are here annexed; and will on­ly advertise this, That as I have no design to im­pose upon any body, I have set down the Names of the Places where these Witnesses here alledged live, that so all those who would inform them­selves further in this matter, may, if they please, have recourse to them.

As this was going to the Press, a Letter written by the Learned Dr. Wellwood to my Lady Mayoress upon this Subject, having been communicated to me, I have thought fit to publish it; and though I acknowledge that Civility obliged me to ask first his leave, yet I hope he will excuse me, if I have not done it. I knew his Modesty to be so great, that I was afraid he would not consent to it; and therefore I had rather be taxed with Incivility, than that the World should lose so curious a Piece.